Author Topic: Building a new 4 inch narrowed beam for the bug (Read 4817 times)

getgeoff · « **on:** July 12, 2015, 04:01:44 PM »

Here is the start of working in the hot sun to get the new Fuchs to fit nice and tucked under the frt fenders.

getgeoff · « **Reply #1 on:** July 12, 2015, 04:03:32 PM »

getgeoff · « **Reply #2 on:** July 12, 2015, 07:21:29 PM »

Some welding

silas · « **Reply #3 on:** July 13, 2015, 07:29:13 PM »

looking good geoff!!

Schvengy · « **Reply #4 on:** July 15, 2015, 12:57:06 PM »

Looking forward to seeing roll

Schvengy · « **Reply #5 on:** July 15, 2015, 01:03:54 PM »

it rolllllll

HotSauce · « **Reply #6 on:** July 15, 2015, 03:03:14 PM »

Who did the kit for you and when do you want to finish mine?

getgeoff · « **Reply #7 on:** July 15, 2015, 07:40:36 PM »

Thanks for the support people. I got the shock kit from Johnny. You have a welder Randy...

getgeoff · « **Reply #8 on:** July 15, 2015, 07:50:33 PM »

I have added a shimmy damper support bracket and moved the beam supports out into position and welded. I have now installed the torsion springs and ready to trim and dimple for the grub screws. I also positioned the steering box after having to remove the locating tabs. Boy talk about a lot of mocking for proper position.

getgeoff · « **Reply #9 on:** July 15, 2015, 07:56:08 PM »

I still fighting with one of the king pins not wanting to pass thru my new set of dropped spindles. I hope to paint the beam tomorrow after the springs are cut and I will shorten the tie rods after everything is assembled after reading on Samba that you just can't remove the same amount of material as you did for the beam. You could end up with too short of a tie rod.

josh · « **Reply #10 on:** July 16, 2015, 12:19:37 PM »

Yup made that mistake before! Need weight on front end for everything to align then figure out tie rod length. Looks good geoff! What car is this for? The 55?

getgeoff · « **Reply #11 on:** July 16, 2015, 04:54:12 PM »

Good point Josh. This frt end is for my new 59.

getgeoff · « **Reply #12 on:** July 16, 2015, 04:56:29 PM »

I will do this one first then build another for the 55. I'm interested in how this one will handle. Might go with a 3 inch for the 55 as it will be a power haus.

getgeoff · « **Reply #13 on:** July 24, 2015, 01:35:40 PM »

Painted and installed the beam

getgeoff · « **Reply #14 on:** July 24, 2015, 01:37:18 PM »

Cut and narrowed the tie rods

getgeoff · « **Reply #15 on:** July 24, 2015, 01:42:39 PM »

The alignment begins

Richard Kuczko · « **Reply #16 on:** July 24, 2015, 04:40:35 PM »

Sweet car. What color is it. Hehe

getgeoff · « **Reply #17 on:** July 24, 2015, 05:14:44 PM »

You should know Richard. If I showed you the engine it would be a give away..ha ha

Richard Kuczko · « **Reply #18 on:** July 24, 2015, 05:33:08 PM »

God I hope you didn't paint it "Pink'. That's just weird. Lol

getgeoff · « **Reply #19 on:** July 25, 2015, 10:31:25 AM »

Pink is the new black.

Geoff · « **Reply #20 on:** July 26, 2015, 08:10:34 AM »

Hey Geoff, I've seen a few people cut and weld tie rods before, some with not so good results. Just so people out there know... The safest and easiest way is to just trim one end and (right hand thread end) run a tap in, notch for pinch bolt ( if it's that style) and your done.

Just posting my .02$ worth as I've done many of these.

Schvengy · « **Reply #21 on:** July 27, 2015, 10:50:05 AM »

my neck hurts from the photo's lol
looking forward to seeing it dumped

getgeoff · « **Reply #22 on:** July 27, 2015, 11:40:56 AM »

I don't know how to rotate the pics. When you open them I open they turn right side up.
Thanks for the tip Geoff. I did some research and I used an old sway bar and cut a section off and inserted into the tie rod shaft as a stiffener and drilled holes to weld the shaft and insert together. I didn't have a rh tap that large at the time..

Jonathan · « **Reply #23 on:** August 08, 2015, 10:38:25 AM »

Impressive amount of work! Thanks for posting the "build" with all the info for those of us learning about these things.
I hope to drop and narrow my '57 at some point too, but this might be more than I can take on.
I assume that you did not have to do any body modifications then with your fabricated beam?

Bruce · « **Reply #24 on:** August 08, 2015, 12:17:44 PM »

Quote from: getgeoff on July 27, 2015, 11:40:56 AM

I don't know how to rotate the pics. When you open them I open they turn right side up.

Turn your camera so they come out straight.

getgeoff · « **Reply #25 on:** August 19, 2015, 06:47:29 PM »

Well after it was done and I drove it a couple of times I made an appointment and got a wheel alignment done and now it is much better. My advise for you is stick with a 2 inch narrowed beam as I find the 4 inch narrowed beam drives like a go cart.

josh · « **Reply #26 on:** August 19, 2015, 07:05:53 PM »

What are wrong with go carts? I love doing 16 point turns with my 5.5"......

getgeoff · « **Reply #27 on:** August 19, 2015, 10:05:26 PM »

When I build my 55 Josh with the big motor I don't want a twitchy ride... I'm driving this new beam up to the Great Canadian to party this weekend, so come over and check out my 1959 Fjord Blue. Wish me luck on the Coq with my 40 hp..